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Three Missouri women enter the gateway to life, love, and longing. Valerie Bishop, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is afraid to leave her home. Can ex-con Healy Ferguson show her the path to freedom? Sailor Kern is enamored of romance author Chandler Michaels. Will she fall for his lines or find a real hero in Parker Travis? Jilly Gardner has reluctantly agreed to help out her estranged foster parents. Will Cam Lane help the family heal the breach? Will these three couples be open to the plan God has for their lives—and loves?

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Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Longings lead to love for three Missouri women. Valerie is a virtual prisoner in her own home. Can an ex-con help her escape? Sailor is smitten with a famous romance writer. Can romance and reality mix? Jilly’s foster parents broke her heart years ago. Can an old friend heal the breach?

About the Author

Although currently residing in North Carolina, Myra Johnson proudly claims her heritage as a native Texan, and she sorely misses real Texas barbecue! Myra is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, winner of the 2005 RWA Golden Heart, and winner of the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best Award for historical fiction. Married since 1972, Myra and her husband have two bright, beautiful daughters, two mission-minded sons-in-law, and seven amazing grandchildren. The Johnsons share their home with a couple of very pampered rescue dogs.

Top customer reviews

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I have enjoyed reading the books from the Romancing America series and recently I read Gateway Weddings by Myra Johnson. In this book we meet three separate individuals all set in the state of Missouri. In the first story Valerie Bishop is dealing with post-traumatic stress following the senseless killing of her husband. She meet ex-con Healy who is also learning how to make a new start. The second story is about young Sailor Kern who has an opportunity to meet the romance novelist she's dreamed about and finds that things are not always what they appear. The final story tells of Jilly Gardner who had left her foster family years ago with no plans to mend the broken relationship but gets an unexpected call for help and finds herself going back to face her broken heart.

Overall, I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars. The author does a good job detailing the characters in all the stories and making them believable. The plots of the first and second stories keep the pages turning a little better than the third story, in my opinion, but overall it is a good read. As with all the books in this series, I like the emphasis that is placed on having a relationship with God and allowing Him to guide you through each and every situation that is encountered. I love the fact that we can read books that encourage people to turn to God through every difficulty and triumph that we face. We see how each of the main characters learns to overcome through the strength and relationship they have with God.

Readers will enjoy reading through the three stories found in Gateway Weddings and I have no difficulty recommending them.

Romance by the BookShy water aerobics instructor Sailor Kern believes herself in love with Chandler Michaels, a romance author she's never met. That's fine with her because she's more comfortable with books than actual romance and teaching over dating. It's not like she meets many men in her line of work anyway. Until Parker Travis shows up for class. Parker isn't your stereotypical hair-stylist, and doesn't appreciate the doctor's RX for back pain: water aerobics. After all, isn't that where his grandmother and her friends play? What a sweet romance! You'll enjoy journeying along as Parker wooed Sailor, showing her that true romance is so much better than her imagination.

Where The Dogwoods BloomA broken ankle forces tennis pro Jilly Gardner on crutches and out of work. Burned out Bible College Professor Cam Lane heads to the Dogwood Blossom Inn, intent on spending time with old friends, Harvey and Alice, and leading retreats. He doesn't expect to find Alice in the hospital. Cam's call to Jilly requesting that she come back and help out her foster parents with the running of the Inn surprises Jilly and leaves her even more off balance than her broken ankle. I enjoyed the playful, teasing interaction between old friends, Jilly and Cam. The road to romance was believable and not at all rushed for a book of this length. I like Ms. Johnson's writing style, interjected with spots of dry humor. Filled with romance, a little intrigue, and an oh-so-sweet ending, you won't want to miss this one!

Autumn RainsI confess to reading the other two stories in Gateway Weddings first, mainly because I wouldn't typically pick up a book with an ex-con for the main character. But don't let that throw you off reading this wonderful story. Healy Ferguson captured the essence of what it means to make mistakes and suffer through the consequences. Rather than becoming bitter, he allows God to change his heart and his life, and focuses his efforts on helping others see the impact of their bad choices. Valerie Bishop suffers severe consequences, but not of her own making. Unable to leave the prison her house and yard have become, Valerie must come to the point where she's willing to move forward and leave the past behind. Healy helps her see beyond the walls of her internal prison. I enjoyed this sweet romance and the delightful way Ms. Johnson created a hero out of an ex-con. And the ending? Sure to leave you with an "ahhh!" Oh, and I love how the author weaves the title, Autumn Rains, into the story. A book full of healing, redemption, and forgiveness!